Environment & Sustainability Policy

Environmental Sustainability at Godiva Veterinary Clinic

Godiva Veterinary Clinic is striving to become a more sustainable practice.

This is a list of what we do so far...

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle — these 3 R's form the underlying basis for the majority of environmentally friendly solutions for improving sustainability in our Veterinary Practice.

Reception/Office

1. Print mindfully — We try not to use paper and email as much as possible. If paper copies are required, the printer is set to print double sided to avoid wasteful printing.

2. Switch to 100% recycled paper — Our paper is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified, which ensures it's been sustainably made. All our shredded paper is recycled as bedding for small animals or compost.

3. Recycle printer ink cartridges — Many charities take them. This year we are using the charity Cartridges4Charity for the Against Malaria Foundation.

4. Post can help too — We recycle postage stamps; the Badger Trust can use your postage stamps for fundraising. Send them to: Badger Trust, PO Box 16992, Sutton Coldfield, B73 9YA.

5. Batteries can have a second life — We have switched to rechargeable batteries where possible. We currently collect them and return to supermarket for recycling.

6. Recycling — We recently collected our milk bottles and donated to a local shop to recycle into trophies.

Pharmacy

7. Dispensing bags — If a bag is required for medications, we use paper bags rather than plastic bags.

8. Refill sustainably — We offer a refill system where clients can return their medication bottles to be refilled to reduce plastic. We ask clients to return any unused medicine back to us to correctly dispose of.

9. Stock checks — We regularly check stock expiration dates to avoid medication going out of date. We send text messages to remind our customers to pick up their medication so we don't have to think about it expiring and going to waste.

Clinical Area

10. Waste disposal — We have clear clinical waste and ordinary waste bins. All our waste is recycled where possible. We separate all our waste. We used to use white sticky address labels on our clinical waste bags but now use permanent marker pen instead. We do a yearly waste audit to check all waste is segregated correctly.

11. Vaccines — Used vials can be cleaned and repurposed, using them to collect hair clippings as a keepsake for owners following euthanasia.

12. Pet Bedding — We use pet bedding made from recycled bottles (Profleece).

13. Tech helps too — Rather than ordering multiple copies of the NOAH Compendium, we have downloaded the free app. Digital versions of the BSAVA Small Animal Formularies are available too through Merlin.

14. Consumables? Make them greener — We regularly do a 'Top 100' product review to check prices and change to alternatives if available.

15. Donate unused or expired supplies and medication — We donate to Vet MedAid, dedicated to improving global animal welfare whilst conserving valuable resources that would end up in landfill.

16. Day to day appointments — We encourage clients to consolidate their appointments with regular repeat medications and Health Care Plans. Preventative health care is encouraged with HCP and nurse clinics, including obesity/diabetic/geriatric.

17. Drug use — We used to advise monthly worming for all adult dogs but now encourage a detailed conversation with the client to see if their pet really is at risk. If not, 4x per year is satisfactory. We use antibiotics responsibly and often use test-before-treat protocols.

Theatre and Dental

18. Reusable fabric scrub hats — Reusable hats have been shown to be superior to single use hats in terms of microbial contamination, so are better for our patients as well as the environment. All our staff have individual scrub hats.

19. Anaesthesia — All our staff calculate the lowest flow rate of anaesthesia to reduce waste gases, which are potent greenhouse gases. We stopped using N2O due to its high carbon footprint. We use a circle circuit where possible to reduce oxygen flow rate. We have recently invested in an oxygen concentrator that makes oxygen from the air, reducing our order from BOC from once a week to once a year, dramatically reducing our carbon footprint.

20. Fluid bags and lines — We repurpose used fluid bags as boots to keep bandages dry, or as warming packs to keep patients warm. Drip lines can be repurposed into ET tube ties rather than using a WOW bandage, especially useful for dentals.

21. Toothbrushes — We use bamboo toothbrushes instead of plastic ones for cleaning clippers and skin brushings.

22. Packaging — We save bubble wrap from packaging to wrap around our patients to keep them warm.

23. Instruments — We have invested in metal steel containers to resterilise our surgical instruments instead of plastic disposal bags.

Staff Room

24. Veterinary publications — We have asked our staff to change to online communication rather than receiving Vet Times and other publications. We encourage virtual CPD instead of driving to a course, and to share information with colleagues.

25. Donate unused veterinary textbooks — We donate to Vet Books for Africa, who distribute textbooks, journals and equipment to veterinary faculties in African countries where they are needed.

25. Bathrooms — We have switched to recycled paper toilet rolls and installed an air hand dryer as an alternative to paper towels.

26. Drinking water — To encourage less individual plastic bottle use, we use a water dispenser for all staff.

27. Uniforms — Long-sleeve thermal tops are supplied to all staff to keep them warm and reduce heating being turned on so high. Jackets are supplied to reception staff.

Outside

28. Insect Friendly Practice Scheme — Bee populations are declining significantly around the world. This is a serious problem as bees help carry out the pollination vital in producing many of the foods we eat every day.

29. Garden — We have created a small garden of flowers and herbs in the back garden and hung bird boxes and bug hotels. Instead of buying herbs for rabbit inpatients, we now have a variety growing on site.

29. Hedgehog Highway — Our fences have gaps at the bottom to allow hedgehogs to walk through freely.

30. Washing — We try not to use the tumble dryer, instead using the airer outside to dry our washing.

Management

30. Green energy — Where possible we use low energy light bulbs. All equipment is turned off instead of left on standby at night and weekends. We have room ambient thermometers to check temperature so heating can be turned down. Staff are aware to turn lights off when rooms are not in use.

31. Finances — We have checked to see if our bank has good ethical and environmental ratings and isn't investing in dirty energy. RBS (Natwest Group) are placed in the 1st decile of commercial banks according to ISS ESG, and rank 157/1003 banks according to Sustainalytics.

32. Sustainability Group — We are passionate about motivating the whole team. We have communicated with our clients via our practice website and social media. We are considering gaining Environmental Management Accreditation like Investors in the Environment. Michelle is our environmental champion and we hold quarterly meetings to discuss how to improve and share new ideas. The whole practice has regular CPD on waste management from PCS. Suggestions are always welcome to the practice manager.